Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is in the spotlight as he addresses the media throng at the Superdome in New Orleans.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is in the spotlight as he addresses the media throng at the Superdome in New Orleans.

Photo: Pat Semansky, Associated Press

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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco walks off the field after NFL football practice at the team's training facility in Owings Mills, Md., Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. The Ravens are scheduled to face the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans on Sunday, Feb. 3. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco walks off the field after NFL football practice at the team's training facility in Owings Mills, Md., Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. The Ravens are scheduled to face the San

Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell, left, looks on as quarterback Joe Flacco warms up during a practice at the team's practice facility in Owings Mills, Md., Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013. The Ravens are scheduled to face the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship on Sunday. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) looks to pass in front of New England Patriots outside linebacker Dont'a Hightower (54) during the first half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game in

Quarterback Joe Flacco, left, and the Baltimore Ravens line up against the New England Patriots during the first half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Quarterback Joe Flacco, left, and the Baltimore Ravens line up against the New England Patriots during the first half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 20,

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco reacts after throwing a five-yard touchdown pass to Dennis Pitta during the second half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco reacts after throwing a five-yard touchdown pass to Dennis Pitta during the second half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game against the New England

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco celebrates after an 11-yard touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin during the second half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco celebrates after an 11-yard touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin during the second half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game against the New England Patriots in

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco passes against the New England Patriots during the first half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco passes against the New England Patriots during the first half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) hands off to running back Bernard Pierce (30) during the first half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) hands off to running back Bernard Pierce (30) during the first half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough,

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) hands off to running back Ray Rice (27) during the first half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) hands off to running back Ray Rice (27) during the first half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough,

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) looks to make a handoff during the first half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) looks to make a handoff during the first half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) hands off to running back Ray Rice (27) during the first half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) hands off to running back Ray Rice (27) during the first half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough,

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) celebrates his touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin during the second half of the NFL football AFC Championship football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) is sacked by Denver Broncos defensive end Robert Ayers (91) in the third quarter of an AFC divisional playoff NFL football game, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, in Denver.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) looks to hand off the ball against the Denver Broncos in the third quarter of an AFC divisional playoff NFL football game, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, in Denver. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) looks to hand off the ball against the Denver Broncos in the third quarter of an AFC divisional playoff NFL football game, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, in Denver. (AP

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) steps back to pass against the Denver Broncos in the third quarter of an AFC divisional playoff NFL football game, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) fumbles the ball as Denver Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe looks for the loose ball in the third quarter of an AFC divisional playoff NFL football game, Saturday,

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) hands the ball off in the end zone to Baltimore Ravens running back Bernard Pierce (30) in the third quarter of an AFC divisional playoff NFL football game, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) hands the ball off in the end zone to Baltimore Ravens running back Bernard Pierce (30) in the third quarter of an AFC divisional playoff NFL football game, Saturday,

Houston Texans defensive end Jared Crick (93) hits Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) just after Flacco released the ball during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

Houston Texans defensive end Jared Crick (93) hits Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) just after Flacco released the ball during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, at

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) is sacked by Houston Texans' Antonio Smith for a loss of eight yards in the fourth quarter at Reliant Stadium on Sunday, October 21, 2012, in Houston, Texas. The

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, center, looks for a receiver in the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Baltimore, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (Associated Press)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, center, looks for a receiver in the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Baltimore, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, left, throws to a receiver as he is pressured by Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jason Hatcher in the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) (Associated Press)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, left, throws to a receiver as he is pressured by Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jason Hatcher in the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Oct. 14,

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, left, looks for a receiver as he is pressured by Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Victor Butler in the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Gail Burton) (Associated Press)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, left, looks for a receiver as he is pressured by Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Victor Butler in the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Oct. 14,

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, left, looks for a receiver as he is pressured by Dallas Cowboys defenders in the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) (Associated Press)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, left, looks for a receiver as he is pressured by Dallas Cowboys defenders in the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Nick

Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens looks to pass as he is chased down by safety Danny McCray #40 of the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on October 14, 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore Ravens won, 31-29. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) warms up before an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) warms up before an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Photo: Orlin Wagner, Associated Press

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Flacco the Super Bowl QB nobody talks about

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NEW ORLEANS — After the Texans demolished the Ravens 43-13 in the seventh game of the season, fans and media in Baltimore blasted Joe Flacco and couldn't wait to show the quarterback the door out of town.

When the Ravens suffered through a three-game losing streak to drop to 9-5, those same fans and media howled for general manager Ozzie Newsome to not give Flacco a new contract.

What a difference five games can make. Now everybody loves Flacco, whose Ravens face San Francisco in Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday.

“It's kind of crazy,” Flacco said Tuesday during Media Day. “We lost those three games, and a couple were really tight. The Denver one wasn't, but the others (three-point losses to Pittsburgh and Washington) were. I don't think we were playing bad in those games.

“I think, after those games were over, we got to a point where people were getting healthy, and we were getting our whole team together. Now we just kind of hit that stride, and we're getting better and better each week.”

Flacco has 10 touchdown passes and no interceptions in his past five games. In playoff victories over Indianapolis (24-9), Denver (38-35 in double overtime) and New England (28-13), he totaled eight touchdown passes and no interceptions.

The only quarterbacks to throw more touchdown passes without an interception in the playoffs were Joe Montana with 11 in 1989 and Steve Young with nine in 1994.

Yet, Flacco continues to draw criticism from those who expect him to revert to the inconsistent quarterback who drove everyone crazy.

“I don't really care if people said bad things or not,” Flacco said. “It's part of being a quarterback. You're going to get talked badly about, and you're going to be put in a good light. You just have to take it for what it is.

“I think there's definitely a part of all of us that hears things, and when somebody doubts what you want to do, you definitely go show them that they may be wrong. I think for the most part, we play for each other, and that stuff is kind of a secondary issue.”

There are reports that Flacco wants to average $20 million a year on his new contract, a deal similar to what Brees received from New Orleans.

“Joe and I have a good understanding of where his contract is,” Newsome said. “People fail to realize that he was a dropped pass away from getting to the Super Bowl last year. So what he did was just back up to what he did a year ago.

“Hopefully, as long as I'm the general manager in Baltimore, he's the quarterback in Baltimore.”

Newsome used a first-round pick to draft the little-known Flacco out of Delaware.

“We had made enough mistakes on quarterbacks that we kind of had an idea of what we wanted to look for,” Newsome said. “The thing we saw about Joe — he had the physical skills, but he had a lot of poise, and he was very accurate. The other physical abilities would take care of themselves.”

The 6-foot-6 Flacco has rewarded Newsome with six playoff victories on the road, most for a quarterback in NFL history.

“Joe has transformed us in a lot of ways,” Harbaugh said. “It's been a process, and Joe has been hugely successful doing it.”